Belt



Nav. M, W39. A L. FREEDLANDER 179.6%

BELT

Filed Jan. 20, 1958 Jrwe/Mv ABRAHAM L. FREEDLANDER,

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT` OFFICE BELT' ApplicationJanuary 2o, 193s, serial No. 185,944

4 Claims.

This invention relates to belts.

It is an object of this invention to provide a power transmission belthaving a body which is constituted of porous spun glass lled withrubber, or synthetic rubber, and which is optionally provided with aneutral axis section formed of flexible, longitudinally inextensible,articulated metal mesh imbedded in rubber or synthetic rubber.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a structurewherein burning of the belt, due to friction, is obviated because theconstituent glass fabric and/or fibers will not support combustion.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, in a4 beltconstruction, a tension section formed of longitudinally inextensiblespun glass fabric having tensile strength superior to that of steel, andwhich is ilexible and supportedV in an interlocking resilient cushion ofrubber, or synthetic rubber, in such manner that the inter- Y lockingrelationship between the glass fabric and the resilient supportingmaterial will permitsucient relative movement therebetween toaccommodate the necessary bending oi the glass belt material in passingover pulleys of relatively small diameter.

llt is a further cblect ci this invention to provide, in such a beltconstruction, a compression section formed of spun glass fabricinterloched in a resilient cushion oi rubber or synthetic rubber.

lt is a further object ci this invention to provide, in such a beltconstruction, a neutral ams member or section disposed between thetension section and compression section in the belt body which is formedof exible, longitudinally inextensible, articulated metal mesh imbeddedin rubber, or synthetic rubber, and provided with interstices of suchsize as to provide for extension therethrough. from side to side oi themetal mesh, ci sumcient resilient rubber, or synthetic rubber, as toprovide ior resilient connection between the rubber, or syntheticrubber, at oppositesides of the mesh, to such extent as to produce amember or section possessed oi the desirable properties and advantagesoi a member formed of rubber, with the additional desirable propertiesof increased strength and longitudinal inextensibility.

it is a i'urther object of this invention to provide such a beltstructure which is totally oil proof due to the fact that the glassfabric and/or nbers are non-,absorptiv'e with respect to oil and,

therefore, oil-prooi and due to the iact that the dil synthetic rubbercushioning material is also oilprooi.

it is a further object of this invention to provide such a beltconstruction which, in addition to possessing the advantageousproperties of beltsconstructed of textile fibers and/or fabric im- (Cl.'I4-233) bedded in rubber, possesses also tensile strength superior tosuch construction as well as oilprooiness.

It is a further. object oi' this invention to provide a' beltconstruction wherein, due to inde pendence of adhesion between theporous spun glass fabric and/or ilbrous material and the interlockedresilient belt material, the ultimate degree of flexibility in operationis secured.

These and vother objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with the drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a belt constructedaccording to the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2, of a modified beltconstruction;

Figure t is a section taken on the line t-t oi Fie l; land Figure b is asection taken on the line ii-b of Figure l.

Formerly, in the construction oi belts textile fabrics and iibersimbedded in, or impregnated with, vulcanized rubber, rupture oi the beitand consequent failure in operation generally `txxuirred throughseparation oi the textile yinfluir-:rial and rubber because oi' thedependence, ior connection of the various portions of the belt, upon'the bond existing between the rubber and the textile fabric.

nccorg to the principles of this invention, all or the greater part oithe beit body is formed oi spun glass which is sulciently porous, orprovided with interstices in such number and oi such' size as to permitthe extension therethrough oi cushioning resilient material such asrubber, or syntheticrubber, in such manner that the interlockingrelationship of the rubber and glass is sumcient alone to provide andmaintain resilient connection between the various vportions oi the belttotally independently of adhesion between the glass and the resilientcushioning material.

Furthermore, where the construction oi oilprooi, or, oil-resistant, beltmaterials was atirom 3;

tempted, although suicient resistance of certain resilient materials toattack of oil and the like was known, nevertheless, the vtextilematerial was so highly absorbent with respect to oil that absorption ofoil thereby in sumclent quantity to destroy the bond between textile andresilient materials most often resulted.

f In some cases, it was proposed to protect the body or carcass, of thebelt from the attack of oil and the like by means of a thin exteriorcoating of oil-resistant material. Such proong has been found to betemporary, at most, because of the removal ci the protective coating bywear.

According to the principles of this invention, the body or carcass ofthe belt, or certain sections thereof, is formed of porous spun glassfabric or fibers impregnated with or imbedded in oil-proof syntheticrubber in such manner as to form a belt body', carcass, or section,which is uniformly and entirely oil-proof. In addition to the aboveadvantages, the spun glass material is possessed of tensile strengthgreatly in excess of that possessed by known textile materials, and evensteel, while possessed of sufficient exibility for the purpose for whichit is utilized by me.

Also, according to the principles of this invention, the setting alre ofthe belt, under excessive friction, is totally prevented because thespun glass fibers and 'fabric'will not support combustion.

Referring to the drawing in detail, in the conf struction illustrated inFigures 1 and 2, the belt comprises the tension section or member Idisposed at the outside of the belt beneath, or inside, and adjacentwhich is the neutral axis section or member 2 which is adjacent andsuperposed on the inwardly disposed compression section or member 3.Secured to the inner surface of the compression section or member 3 is abreaker strip 4. A thin protective surface layer 5 of rubber is securedon the tension section or member Iv at the outside of the belt and asimilar layer 6 is disposed on the inside, or lower, surface of thebreaker strip 4. The body or carcass of the belt is thus composed of thepermanently secured tension section I, neutral axis section 2,compression section 3, breaker strip 4 and surface layers 5 and- 6.

'I'he tension section or member I is formed of a plurality of superposedlayers of straight laid, square woven spun glass fabric 'i which has thethreads thereof suiiiciently spaced to provide adequate interstices forthe extension therethrough of sufficient rubber 8 to providesubstantially shear-proofcnnection between the rubber at opposite sidesof each fabric layer i (see Fig. 4). The body or carcass of the sectionI, therefore, comprises highly porous spun glass material havinginterstices thereof filled with rubber, or synthetic rubber 8, insuicient quantity to provide an intensely interlocked resilientcushioning connection between the layers 'I of spun glass fabric.

The spun glass fabric 'I is possessed of tensile strength far in excess'of textile material of commensurate proportions. Inv fact, the tensilestrength of spun glass is greater than that of steel. Due to thesquare-woven, straight laid disposition of the spun glass fabric 1, itis freely bendable about transverse axes and, therefore, thetensionsection I, in addition to possessing a desired degree oftensile'strength, is freely bendable and the layers 1 of spun glassfabric are connected by an interlocked cushion of resilient material,such as rubber, or synthetic rubber, in such mannpr that the bending ofthe tension section or member I may take place freely despite thelongitudinal inextensibility and the transverse incompressibility of thespun glass fabric 'I.

The section 2, which is designated as the neutral axis section or memberand which has the neutral axis of the belt disposed therein, is formedof substantially longitudinally inextensible articulated metal meshgenerally designated 9 which is imbedded in resilient rubber orsynthetic rubber 8, as shown particularly in Figure 5. As is also shownparticularly in Figure 5, the articulated r'netal mesh 9 comprises a;plurality of transversely disposed interlocked sinuous strands I formedof bent Wire of any suitable material such as brass, steel or the like.

The mesh 9 is provided with such interstices as to permit the extensiontherethrough of rubber, synthetic rubber, or the like 8, in such quan;tity, from the material 8 at opposite sides of the mesh 9 as to formsuch substantially shear-proof resilient connection between the material8 at opposite sidesof the mesh 9 as to produce a section or memberZ'having substantially the flexibility and resiliency of unreinforcedrubber, or synthetic rubber, 8, while at the same time having additionaltensile strength due to the longitudinal inextensibility of the mesh 9.l

As is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mesh 9 is separated from thetension section or member I by a sheet, or zone, of resilient material 8of substantial depth. The mesh is likewise separated by a sheet or zoneof similar thickness from the compression section or member 3.

'I'he compression section or member 3, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, isformed of parallel transversely disposed threads or fibers II of spunglass (size exaggerated) which are imbedded in and surrounded by rubberor synthetic rubber 8 which thus forms an interlocking cushion thereforand permits of compression of the 'compression section 3 despite theincompressibility of the spun glass fibers II.

The breaker strip 4 is formed of one or more layers of spun glass fabric1 provided with an interlocking impregnation of rubber or syntheticrubber 8. As will be most clearly understood, the size or coarseness ofthe layers of spun glass fabric, 1 and the spun glass fibers 'I I, ishighly exaggerated in the interest of clearness of disclosure. Thus, thebelt body or carcass illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises thetension section or member I disposed outwardly thereof and formed of aplurality of superposed layers of spun glass fabric interlockinglyimbedded in rubber or synthetic rubber 8 and provided with a surfacecovering of rubber or synthetic rubber and the intermediate or neutralaxis section or member 2 formed of longitudinally inextensiblearticulated metal mesh 9 interlockingly imbedded in rubber or syntheticrubber 8 and the inwardly disposed compression section or member 3formed of transversely disposed parallel n spun glass threads or fibersII interlockingly imbedded in rubber or synthetic rubber 8 and havingits outer side secured to the neutral axis section or member 2, whilethe breaker strip Il of spun glass fabric 'I interlockingly imbedded inrubber 8 is secured to the inner side thereof and itself provided on itsinner surface with the inner surface layers 8 of rubber or syntheticrubber.

In forming the belt, the respective sections I, 2 and 3 andthe breakerstrip 4 are preferably formed by' imbedding the spun glass fabric 1,longitudinally inextensible metal mesh 9 and transverse fibers II invulcanizable rubber or synthetic rubber and uniting the sections I, 2and 3 and the breaker strip 4, preferably under pressure in a mold, andthereafter vulcanizing the component parts of the belt into a singleunitary belt carcass or body formed of rubber or synthetic rubber 8reinforced in the tension section with spun glass fabric 1, in theintermediate or neutral axis section or member 2 with longitudinallyinextensible flexible articulated metal mesh, in the compression sectionor member 3 with transversely disposed parallel spun glass fibers II andin the breaker strip I with spun glass fabric 1.

As anil alternative construction, where the utmost tensile strength isdesired and where the use for which the belt is intended is such as tomake the utmost bendability unnecessary. the construction illustrated inFigure 3 is provided as a modification for that illustrated in Figures 1and 2.

As shown in Figure 3, the tension section or member I is formed ofsuperposed layers of spun glass fabric 'I interlocklngly imbedded inrubber or synthetic rubber 8, in the same manner in which the tensionsection I in the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is formed.

The intermediate, neutral axis section or member 2 is formed oflongitudinally inextensible, flexible, articulated metal mesh 9interlocklngly imbedded in rubber or synthetic rubber B in the samemanner in which the intermediate, or neutral axis section or member 2 ofthe construction l illustrated in Figures l and 2 is formed.

The compressionl section, designated 3a, is

formed of superposed layers of spun glass fabric 'I interlocklnglyimbedded in rubber or synthetic rubber 8 in the same manner in which thetension sections I of the constructions illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and3 are formed.

Instead of the breaker strip 4, in the construction illustrated inFigures 1 and 2, the belt carcass or body is enclosed in a wrapper 4awhich extends about all sides thereof and which is formed of one or morelayers of spunv glass fabric I interlocklngly imbedded in rubber orsynthetic rubber 8.

The form of belt illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is the side drivetype of power transmission belt known as the V-belt, and while theprinciples of this invention, as illustrated, are particularly adaptedfor use in the construction of such belts which may be of the typeillustrated, or of the type provided with cut-away portions in thecompression section 3 thereof to form teeth or cogs for the driving ofrailway generators and the like, it is, of course, to be understood thatthe intermediate neutral axis section or member 2 may be entirelyomitted or replaced by an intermediate section or member formed entirelyof rubber.

Furthermore, where it is desired that the principles of this inventionbe applied to surface drive belts of fiat, relatively thin construction,the entire body of the belt may be formed of superposed layers of spunglass fabric I interlocklngly imbedded in rubber or synthetic rubber 8in the same manner in which the tension section I of each of theillustrations is formed. In instances where the belt is subjected tofumes, fluids and gases which readily attack and destroy rubber, it is,of course, to be understood that the material 8 shall be so chosen astoprovide the ultimate resistance to such attack.

As the spun glass material is completely resistant to attack of suchsubstances and furthermore will not support combustion, it will be seenthat, by constructing the belt entirely of synthetic rubber, spun glassmaterial and, optionally, longitudinally inextensible flexible metalmesh, a belt construction is provided which is entirely oilproof andwhich will operate satisfactorily in such relations as have hithertoprevented the satisfactory use of belt drive transmission as, forinstance,

ed may be operated in satisfactory manner though immersed entirely inoil.

While the above description relates to the formation of the belt body ofglass fabric or fibers embedded in rubber and synthetic rubber, it is,of course. to be understood that I comprehend the use of other materialswhich are not technically classed as synthetic rubber, but which arepossessed of the requisite properties for use in the practice of thisinvention. Therefore, the above terms, as used by me, are to beconsidered comprehensive, rather than exclusive, of such equivalent orcomparable materials.

It will be understood that the above-described structure is merelyillustrative of the manner in which the principles of my invention maybe utilized and ,that I desire to comprehend within my inventionsuchmodifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an oil-proof power belt, a compression section formed oftransversely disposed parallel spun glass fibers interlocklngly imbeddedin oilproof synthetic rubber, an intermediate section having the beltneutral axis therein superposed on said compression section and formedof ilexible longitudinally inextensible articulated metal meshinterlocklngly imbedded in oil-proof synthetic rubber, a tension sectionsuperposed on said intermediate section and formed of layers of straightlaid square woven spun glass fabric interlocklngly imbedded in oil-proofsynthetic rubber, and a breaker strip secured to the inside surface ofsaid compression section and comprising straight laid square woven spunglass fabric interlocklngly imbedded in oil-proof synthetic rubber.

2. In combination, in a V-belt, of a neutral axis portion comprisingmetal mesh embedded in a rubber body and tension and compressionsections of rubber having transverse glass threads extending from sideto side of the belt whereby the metal mesh prevents longitudinalextension of the belt and the transverse glass threads prevent lateralcompression of the belt.

3. In combination, in a V-belt, of a neutral axis portion comprisingmetal mesh embedded in a rubber body and tension and compressionsections of rubber having transverse glass threads extending from sideto side of the belt whereby the metal mesh prevents longitudinalextension of the belt and the transverse glass threads prevent lateralcompression of the belt at least one of the compression and tensionsections having the transverse glass threads interwoven withlongitudinal glass threads to form one or more layers of straight laid,square woven, rubber embedded fabric.

4. A V-shaped power transmission belt comprising a body of oil-resistantsynthetic rubber reinforced with straight laid, square Woven glassfabric interlocklngly embedded in said rubber and a neutral axis sectioncomprising a relatively large mesh fabric embedded in saidrubber, themeshes of said fabric being sufficiently large to permit of cold flow ofthe rubber therethrough when the belt is bent.

- ABRAHAM L. FREEDLANDER.

